New hard disk in a MacBook (2008) running 10.5.8 and also upgrade it to SL: What are the steps?

Hi -- I want to replace the hard disk in a MacBook that's running 10.5.8. I have a current TM backup.

I also want to upgrade it to 10.6 (SL), and I have the SL CD as well.

My assumption is I should first do the swap and then do the upgrade to SL.

Is the correct sequence to take out the old disk, then put in the new disk, then reboot, holding down a key (but which one?) to boot from the Time Machine disk? Then restore from the TM? Is there more to it than that?

Note that the old disk has a second partition w/ Windows installed on it. This is no longer required (nor is anything on that partition required). Am I correct that the restore from Time Machine will not re-configure/re-install such a partition?

If the above sequence is correct, then once the system is running again I would do the upgrade.

Alternatively, would it be better to upgrade to SL first -- and then swap disks?

Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger, Leopard or Snow Leopard.) After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.

If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.

Step Two:Remove the old drive and install the new drive. Place the old drive in an external USB enclosure. You can buy one at OWC who is also a good vendor for drives.

Step Three: Boot from the external drive. Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager appears. Select the icon for the external drive then click on the downward pointing arrow button.

Step Four: New Hard Drive Preparation

1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.

2. After DU loads select your new hard drive (this is the entry with the

mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of

the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive

is failing or has failed and will need replacing. Otherwise, click on the

Partition tab in the DU main window.

3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from

the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended

(Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to

GUID then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and

wait until the process has completed.

4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the

drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main

window.

5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the

Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to

return to the Erase window.

6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several

hours depending upon the drive size.

Step Five: Clone the old drive to the new drive

1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.

2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.

3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.

4. Check the box labeled Erase destination.

5. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the

Destination entry field.

6. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the

Source entry field.

7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.

Destination means the new internal drive. Source means the old external drive.

Step Six: Open the Startup Disk preferences and select the new internal volume. Click on the Restart button. You should boot from the new drive. Eject the external drive and disconnect it from the computer.

As an alternative, after the drive is replaced you can boot from the Snow Leopard DVD and install Snow Leopard from scratch:

Clean Install of Snow Leopard

1. Boot the computer using the Snow Leopard Installer Disc. Insert the disc into the

optical drive and restart the computer. After the chime press and hold down the

"C" key. Release the key when you see a small spinning gear appear below the

dark gray Apple logo.

2. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue

button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.

After DU loads select the hard drive entry from the left side list (mfgr.'s ID and drive

size.) Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window. Set the number of

partitions to one (1) from the Partitions drop down menu, set the format type to Mac

OS Extended (Journaled, if supported), then click on the Partition button.

3. When the formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed

with the OS X installation and follow the directions included with the installer.

4. When the installation has completed your computer will Restart into the Setup

Assistant. Be sure you configure your initial admin account with the exact same

username and password that you used on your old drive. After you finish Setup

Assistant will complete the installation after which you will be running a fresh

install of OS X. You can now begin the update process by opening Software

Can I boot from a *Snow Leopard* installer DVD, prep the drive, install Snow Leopard, and still restore the old Home folder from the TM backup drive?

Yes, that's doable.

Drive Partition and Format

1. Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.

2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.

3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.

4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.

5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.

6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.

Steps 4-6 are optional but should be used on a drive that has never been formatted before, if the format type is not Mac OS Extended, if the partition scheme has been changed, or if a different operating system (not OS X) has been installed on the drive.

When formatting is completed quit DU and return to the installer. Install Snow Leopard. When Snow Leopard has been installed it will reboot on its own into the Setup Assistant. Be sure you have your Time Machine backup drive connected so you can opt to migrate your Home folder via the Setup Assistant.

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